Stepbrother of missing teen charged with her murder
The stepbrother of 16-year-old Becky Watts has been charged with her murder, while his girlfriend has been charged with intending to pervert the course of justice.
Nathan Matthews, 28, and Shauna Hoare, 21, both of Cotton Mill Lane, Bristol, remain in police custody and will appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.
Four men and one woman arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender also remain in custody at this time, a spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said.
Matthews and Hoare, who uses the surname Phillips on her social media accounts, were arrested on suspicion of Becky's kidnap on Saturday.
They were later rearrested on suspicion of her murder and detectives had until this afternoon to charge or release them.
A force spokesman said: “Nathan Matthews, 28, of Cotton Mill Lane, Bristol, has been charged with the murder of Rebecca Watts. He remains in custody and is due before Bristol Magistrates’ Court tomorrow at 10am.
“Shauna Hoare, 21, of Cotton Mill Lane, Bristol, has been charged with intending to pervert the course of justice. She remains in custody and is due before Bristol Magistrates’ Court tomorrow at 10am.
“The four men and one woman who were arrested on Monday on suspicion of assisting an offender remain in police custody at this time. A warrant of further detention was granted for these suspects at hearing earlier today.”
Hoare was last night rushed to hospital by officers after “feeling unwell” in custody but returned after being seen by a doctor, police previously said.
Becky, described as “wonderful” by her family, vanished from her home in Crown Hill, Bristol at 11.15am on February 19.
Avon and Somerset Police launched a huge search operation – involving six police teams each day – after she was reported missing the following afternoon.
On Monday night, detectives received information that Becky’s body had been “cut up” and they attended a house in Barton Court, Barton Hill, Bristol.
Body parts were discovered at the address, which continues to be combed by forensics teams. A private ambulance was seen leaving the property yesterday afternoon.
Bouquets, teddies and cards have been left at the family home where Becky went missing, and at the site where body parts were found.
The five people arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender following the grim discovery are four men, aged 29, 29, 23 and 23, and one woman, also aged 23.
Matthews was identified as the teenager’s stepbrother – the son of her father Darren’s wife Anjie – by family members.
Formal identification procedures of the body parts has not yet been completed.
